TY - JOUR T1 - CPAP therapy in OSA patients: The effects on healthcare use and medical costs related to cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - P433 AU - Judit Kata Varga AU - Gabor Horvath AU - Zsolt Istvan Komlosi AU - Gyorgy Boszormenyi-Nagy AU - Katalin Vardi Visy AU - Gyorgy Losonczy AU - Laszlo Kunos Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P433.abstract N2 - Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a major risk factor for cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases, however, CPAP treatment could reduce the occurrence and healthcare costs of these complications.Aim: To assess the impact of CPAP therapy on healthcare use and medical costs related to cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases.Methods: By analysing the patient database of the Hungarian Health Insurance Fund Administration in a one-year period starting from July 2007, OSA patients with newly initiated CPAP therapy were identified. Hospital admission rates, hospital treatment days, and the use and costs of relevant medications of these patients were evaluated from 3 years before to 3 years after starting the CPAP therapy.Results: In the study period, 993 OSA patients started CPAP therapy in Hungary. In comparison to the 3-year period on CPAP therapy (post-CPAP), the numbers of pre-CPAP cardio- and cerebrovascular disease related hospital admissions and treatment days were higher by 22.4% (205 vs. 159 admissions) and 25% (2254 vs. 1698 days), respectively. Mean hospital treatment costs were 34% lower in the post-CPAP than in the pre-CPAP period (238 vs. 156 €). The reduction in post-CPAP hospital admissions, treatment days and costs was more prominent in a subgroup analysis in patients fully complying with the follow-up care (112 patients). Interestingly, the use and costs of relevant medications were nearly identical in the pre- and post-CPAP periods.Conclusion: Our study suggests that CPAP therapy could reduce healthcare costs of OSA patients by lowering hospital admission rates, treatment days and costs related to cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. ER -